Kelvin: OK. So, this is a story about my birthday. Yeah, half a year ago. That day was the inter-class football competition as well as my birthday and I was selected to play in the match. So, our class needed to encounter another very strong opponent. Everyone felt very excited about this and almost seemed to forget about my birthday, so I was not very happy about this. I tried my best in the match but we still lost, so I was very disappointed because of two reasons. One is because we lost the match, and another because everyone seemed to forget about my birthday. So, but suddenly, my friends took out many creams after the match and they sprayed all the cream on me so my face and my hair were full of cream. And they said ‘Happy birthday!’ and I was very surprised and glad at that time, so, yes.

Examiner: Yeah, what a great surprise! OK, did you have any idea that your friends were planning a surprise like that for you?

Kelvin: Actually, no, because they hadn’t mentioned anything about my birthday before the match, so I hadn’t expected they would do this.

Examiner: OK. Great story, Kelvin. Thanks.

……

Examiner: OK, Melissa, so now I’d like you to tell us a short personal story or anecdote and here are the topics. Can you take one?

Melissa: It was my best friend’s birthday and I decided to give her a surprise since we have been good friends since Form 3. And I made a really huge birthday card, about this size, and I put it outside a shop in Central and I hid somewhere she couldn’t find me. She felt very nervous about that and she called me and we chatted on the phone. Afterwards she found the card, and I appeared in front of her and I brought her to a restaurant and I didn’t tell her because actually I was holding a party for her with about thirteen of my friends, and I covered her eyes and walked into the open area of the restaurant, and I put down my hands. She saw my friends. My friends and I said ‘Happy birthday!’ and she was very surprised and shocked and she was touched. So, after this experience I think it’s very happy myself, for myself, it’s very happy too because making someone happy can make everything go well and I think if everyone can put down their selfishness and be kind to everyone, the world will be peaceful and wonderful.

Examiner: All right, what a great story! And it was a good experience for you too, right?

Melissa: Yeah.

Examiner: OK. Why did you want to give such a special surprise to this friend?

Melissa: Because when we were still in the same class she helped me a lot and it’s a kind of thank you for her.

Hi Ash94,
Yes, we agree that it would be great to have a notifications system for replies. We want to improve the comment features on the website and we're looking into it. Thanks a lot for suggesting this improvement, anyway. We're working on it!
Best wishes,
Joanna (LearnEnglishTeens team)

Hi ann_gemini. Kelvin and Melissa are both from Hong Kong. They spoke well, didn’t they? Did you like watching these videos? Keep going with your English practice and never give up! It takes hard work to improve but you can do it! You are writing very well in your messages so I think you’re already doing well.
Jonathan (LearnEnglish Teens Team)

Hi Jonathan, I think people living in Hong Kong have greater exposure to English because it's a multicultural society, isn't it? So they speak English so well. I am now practicing speaking English with an American accent :D . I hope I could speak as naturally as Kelvin and Melissa did